Miguel Gómez (minors02)

Miguel Angel Gómez Martínez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 170 lb.

• Born May 31, 1974 in Panama City Panamá

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Miguel Gómez has been a mainstay of the Panamanian national team in the first decade of the 21st Century.

Minor leagues

Gómez started his pro career in 1992 with the DSL Blue Jays, going 2-8 with a 7.33 ERA, an inauspicious debut. In 1993, he improved to 4-0, 3.77 with the DSL Blue Jays East. After not pitching in 1994, Miguel returned to action in 1995 with the DSL Jays (2-0, 1.23) and Medicine Hat Blue Jays (2-5, 5.10). He allowed 10 homers with Medicine Hat, leading the Pioneer League.

Gómez jumped to high-A ball in 1996 with the Dunedin Blue Jays. He responded well, with a 5-4, 3.38 record and 5 saves in 33 relief appearances. In 1997, Miguel split time between Dunedin (4-3, 2 Sv, 4.93 in 21 games) and the Hagerstown Suns (1-1, 8.04 in 12 G, 27 H in 15 2/3 IP). That ended Gómez's minor league career. He had gone 20-21 on the farm.

International tourneys, Panama League

Gómez led Panama in the 2001 Baseball World Cup, going 2-0 with a save and 1.23 ERA. He tied 12 others, including Jose Contreras, Pedro Luis Lazo and Norge Vera for second in the 2001 Cup in wins, trailing Chih-Chia Chang. He helped them to a Gold in the 2001 Bolivarian Games. In the winter of 2001-2002, the Panama League was revived for one year. Gómez went 5-0 with a 1.12 ER, 5th in the league in ERA and possibly tied for second in wins, helping the Carta Vieja Roneros take the title.

In the 2002 Intercontinental Cup, the right-hander was much worse, allowing 6 runs in 2 2/3 innings and going 0-1 as Panama's worst hurler.

Taiwan

Miguel signed with the Brother Elephants of Taiwan for 2003 and was 4-3, but with a 1.69 ERA. Had he qualified in innings pitched (he was 42 shy), he would have led in ERA.

Miguel faded in 2004, going 3-3 with a 4.68 ERA for the Elephants and earning his release. He had been 7-6 in Taiwan.

More tourneys; hit and miss

Returning to Panama's national team for the 2005 Baseball World Cup, he was a major part in their Bronze Medal efforts, going 2-0 with 3 saves and a 0.49 ERA. He saved wins against South Korea and China, pitched 4 innings of relief in a victory over Brazil as Panama rallied and beat Nicaragua in a pitcher's duel. In the Bronze Medal game, he entered with a 7-6 lead over the host Dutch national team and made it stand up with 3 shutout innings for the save. He allowed 15 hits but only one run in 18 1/3 IP while striking out 19. He was third in the 2005 Cup in ERA, tied for fourth in wins and led in saves. He lost out the right-handed pitcher spot on the All-Tournament team to Pedro Luis Lazo, who had as many wins, a nearly identical ERA and one less save but had a better K rate and lower opponent average.

Gómez was atrocious in the 2006 World Baseball Classic in another rapid reverse of fortune. Against Cuba, he relieved Bruce Chen with a 2-1 deficit in the 6th. He plunked Michel Enríquez then allowed a single to Yulieski Gourriel on a 0-2 count. After Osmani Urrutia grounded the runners over, he intentionally walked Frederich Cepeda to load the bases. Manuel Corpas relieved and got out of the jam with a double-play ball. Two days later, he started against the Dutch team he shut down in the 2005 World Cup. This time, they had his number. He allowed a leadoff single to Mike Duursma. After striking out Ivanon Coffie, Gómez allowed a Sidney de Jong single. Randall Simon singled home Duursma. On a full count, Percy Isenia singled to load the bases. Roger Deago came in and allowed all 3 inherited runners to score to leave Gómez with a 45.00 ERA in the World Baseball Classic. While Gómez was struggling, Dutch counterpart Shairon Martis tossed a no-hitter as Panama lost 10-0.

Gómez continued his roller-coaster career in the 2007 Pan American Games. In the opener, he beat Cuba and Elier Sánchez 4-3; it would be Cuba's lone defeat on its way to Gold while Panama went home without a Medal. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup, the veteran right-hander got the win over the Spanish national team then saved a win over the Mexican national team before beating the South African national team. Panama qualified initially for the second round but due to not properly insuring their professional players, they were removed and replaced by Mexico, denying them a chance to defend their Bronze from 2005. Miguel had allowed one run in 11 1/3 IP in the event.

In the 2008 Americas Baseball Cup, the right-hander was 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA. He did blow a 3-2 lead against Venezuela, entering with the bases loaded and one out in relief of Jorge Cortes and promptly surrendering a Jaen Centeno grand slam.

He is listed as the pitching coach for the Ottawa Champions for part of 2017.

Sources

• IBAF
• World Baseball Classic site
• Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database
• SABR Minor league database
• 1996-2004 Baseball Almanacs
• Sportsline.com
• Baseballdecuba.com
• Wiki Baseball (in Chinese)